“The markets are failing disabled people, and they are having to pay more than they should just to live the same lives as others”, according to the Chair of a new independent commission that will look into the extra costs that disabled people face.

The summer sales are well underway, but research released today by disability charity Scope reveals that British women are hoarding 100 million items of unworn clothing in their wardrobes – over half of which (51%) were bought because they were on sale.

Most disabled people are concerned about a change in the law on assisted suicide, with many fearing that it could lead to disabled people being pressured into ending their lives prematurely, according to a new poll[1].

Responding to the Government's announcement that Atos is to quit its contract to assess whether benefits claimants are fit to work, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope said:

In June 2013, The Government published a draft of the new 'national eligibility threshold' for social care, as introduced by the Care Bill. The threshold is set to determine which older and disabled people are eligible for social care support.

The National Audit Office has published its early progress report in to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit. They found that the DWP has had to delay the roll-out of PIP, and the Department has increased the risk that the programme will not deliver value for money in the longer term.

The potential for mainstream technology to transform the lives of the 11 million disabled people in the UK remains largely untapped, according to disability charity Scope and the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design.

Since 1 April 2013, persons deemed to have 1 spare bedroom have had their housing benefit reduced by 14% and persons deemed to have 2, or more, spare bedrooms have had their housing benefit reduced by 25%.

Liam Bryne, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, outlined Labour's plans to reform social security for disabled people and to promote a single assessment for all health and social needs, and universal disability insurance.